England lost captain Alastair Cook on the final ball of the day after a topsy turvy opening to the third test against the West Indies. Despite it being a great batting pitch the Three Lions lost wickets steadily through the day, with only Moeen Ali and the skipper getting over 50.
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Jonathan Trott’s struggles continued early on, departing before a single run had been scored. The manner of his wicket, from a short delivery, shows how the 34-year-old is surely no longer cut out for the highest form of the game.
Gary Balance and Ian Bell both got out shortly after, leaving the team teetering on 38-3. However, Joe Root looked like he was continuing his great form from the earlier tests, and helped rebuild the innings with Cook. The captain was lucky to still be in after this catch was given not out despite appearing to bounce off the fielder’s finger rather than the ground.
Root fell shortly afterwards for 33, and England were 91-4. This brought Moeen Ali to the crease, and the all rounder proceeded to swiftly get to 58 before being run out by Cook at 189-5. The 27-year-old wasn’t even in the screen on the replays, making you think why his batting partner thought there could be a run there.
A quickfire 22 from Stokes got the team to 233 before he cut it straight to gully. However, the most important part of the day perhaps came in the dying minutes. In the space of a few overs Alastair Cook both scored his first century since May 2013 and got out, leaving the Test very much in the balance going in to the second day.
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